Steeplechase title to Renner

Press, 8 March 1982, Page 19

Steeplechase title to Renner

By ROD DEW A New Zealand resident re-cord-breaking win by Peter Renner (Canterbury) in the demanding 3000 m steeplechase on the first day of the Countrywide national track and field championships put his selection for the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane beyond doubt. Renner led all the way. pulling away from his only real challen-. ger. his New Brighton club training partner. Neil Lowsley (Canterbury), in the final lap for an outstanding time of Bmin 28.85. 0.2 s better than the former national record, which was set by Euan Robertson (Otago) six years ago. Lowsley was second in Bmin 31.915. just outside his best time but still very fast by New Zealand standards. This was the second occasion in successive races that both Renner and Lowsley have bettered the Commonwealth Games standard of Bmin 375. For Renner, it was the third qualifying run this summer in a great comeback after a period of very poor form early in the season.

The win and the record were very satisfying for Renner, who still has nightmares about the disastrous fall on the final hurdle which cost him victory in last season's championship. Bui there was no mistake this time. Renner and Lowsley made an early break on the 'rest of the field' and simply ran away. They had both finished before the bronze medallist. BarryThompson (Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay), had entered the' finishing straight.

Renner said later: “I had my old mate there to push me. I was not happy with my hurdling but I have got the record and a gold medal. I guess you cannot have everything." Lowsley. too. was critical of his own hurdling. He said: "We could knock so much time off if we could improve our hurdling. Today, mine was terrible."

Both athletes hope to make a short trip to Europe this winter to help them prepare for the Commonwealth Games. Tom Birnie (Canterbury), another New Brighton runner, withdrew from the 1509 m at the last moment and concentrated his efforts on the 10.090 m championship. He was rewarded with a gold medal for a time of 29min 22.75.

He said later: "I could see that the 1500 m was going to be decided with a hell of a sprint at the finish and I thought the 10.000 m might be easier."

He won the national 1500 m crown in 1977 with a devastating sprint, which was in evidence again on Saturday. He sat back in the main bunch for most of the race. The challengers gradually dropped off as the pace stepped up in the second half of the race and at the bell only two were left, Rex Wilson (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay) and Birnie. Birnie waited until Wilson had launched his final sprint off the final turn and then effortlessly ran past him. In the final run to the finish, Birnie constantly looked behind him. running well within himself and just fast enough to win. Wilson was second in 29min 23.1 s and Shane Marshall (Auckland) was third in 29tnin 31.75. Fourth placing went to another Canterbury man. John Sheddan. who was with the leaders for much of the distance. His time was 29min i 5635.

In spite of two sets of heats and a semi-final.'New Zealand's former Olympic champion. John Walker, was still much too good for his younger rivals in the 1500 m final. He stayed in the bunch, eased into the lead at the bell, and sprinted with 300 m to run.

The outstanding young Canterbury runner. Michael Gilchrist, chased hard down the back straight and another fine young middle-distance prospect. Peter O'Donoghue (Northland), stayed with him. But around the final turn it was obvious that Walker had the edge.

The former world mile recordholder drew ahead in the finishing straight and then eased off when victory became certain His time was 3min 45.325, faster than last year's but still a modest one for him. O'Donoghue narrowly won the sprint for second place, reaching the finish in 3min 45.815. Gilchrist, feeling the effects of two weeks off with injury a short time ago. was third'in 3min 45.955. , Afterwards. Walker was high

in his praise of O'Donoghue and Gilchrist. He said: “They are both so even. They both deserve to go to the Games and should he given every opportunity possible. The more competition they get. the better they will become." The women's 1500 m title went, as expected, to Dianne Rodger (Waikato). She led most of the way and held off a strong finishing challenge from Lorraine Moller (Auckland; for a winning time of 4min 14.095. just inside the Games qualifying time. Moller was also inside the Games standard with her-time of 4min 14.255. Another Games qualifying performance was achieved by Kieran McKee (Canterbury) in the pole vault. He came 'in at 4.55 m and cleared the qualifying height of 4.95 m at his third attempt. He went on for an attempt at 5.02 m, only to bring the bar down on each' occasion He said later. "I had more vaults in this competition than I have ever had before. 1 was

pretty tired when I came to the final height." McKee was also worried about a hamstring injury in his left leg. which he suffered at training last Monday: He was unable to tram for the’ rest of the week but kept this a secret until after his win. The runner-up was his brother. Derek McKee (Canterbury), with 4.55 m. and a former champion. Mike Ritchie, gave Canterbury a clean sweep when he reached third place with a vault of 4.25 m. Noeline Hodgins- (Auckland) won the women's long jump with a superb leap of 6.47 m. breaking the New Zealand national and resident records by 10cm. Her performance also easily bettered, the Games qualifying standard. Pam Hendren, the defending tille-holder and also holder of the record, had to accept second place with a leap of 6.20 m. Third place, with a New Zealand junior record distance of 6.02 m. went to Jayne Mitchell (Waikato). Several other records were broken on the first day. The Waikato schoolboy. Mark Nua. won the junior shot put with a

record distance oi 15.75 m. Janine Robson (Auckland! chopped 0.23 s off the womens 400 m hurdles record with her winning time in the final of 59.125: and the Waikato team won the junior 4 x 100 m relav m a new time of 41.615. Murray Cumberpatch (Auckland) upheld his top ranking in the men's 400 m hurdles final with a winning run of 52.485. Canterbury's big hope. Wayne Paul, had the misfortune to draw the outside lane and so. once again, had nobody to chase. Even so. there was not much in it. Paul was a close'second in 52.745. The young New Zealand, highjump record-holder. Angela Pule (Canterbury), suffered her first main reversal in the women's high jump, finishing out of a place. Clare Ryan (Auckland) won. with 1.79 m. and Lyn Soqle (Auckland) was second: with 1.76 m. A third Aucklander. Megan Clarkcn. claimed the-bronze medal alter having' won on a„ countback with Pule. Both cleared 1.70 m. '■ -